Also called El Trifinio, Montecristo National Park is in northwestern El Salvador about 70 mi/115 km northwest of San Salvador. It borders Honduras and Guatemala.
Protected by all three governments, the Montecristo cloud forest has many microclimates and is home to an abundance of plants and wildlife. Animal species include pumas, coyotes, anteaters, quetzals, toucans and spider monkeys. Tall laurel and oak trees form a canopy that shuts out sunlight, and humidity is 100%.
This is one of the few remaining spots in Central America where scientists can conduct studies in a tropical cloud forest. El Salvador's Ministry of the Environment is promoting the concept of a natural superhighway through Central America's forests where birds and animals can migrate freely.
Permission to visit the reserve must be obtained in advance from the Ministry of Agriculture in San Salvador. The park is open October-March. Those with permission to visit may camp in the forest. Access to Montecristo is by four-wheel-drive vehicle via Metapan. Tours are available from the capital.
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